Those massive brakes, however, pull the scoring Volvo’s way, the S60’s impressive 36.97m stop from 100km/h the second shortest of the group.

Around the circuit, by the seat of the pants, the new S60 certainly feels tauter, firmer and sharper than old model.

That said, in the company of some of the friskiest chassis on the market, the revised Polestar tweaks can’t quite shake the slightly ponderous character ingrained in the base car’s DNA.

The auto is better, but not great. Grip is impressive, though dynamics still err towards predictability rather than heady driver engagement.

Safe rather than thrilling transit, then, and the judges scored it down accordingly in the crucial ‘subjective’, some 20 percent of the overall score.

It’s lap-time of 1:04.40 wasn’t shabby at all, around two seconds quicker than both the Chrysler or the Lexus. Against the class-leading Golf R, though, the Volvo was 2.5 seconds – and daylight – behind the leading pace.

A workmanlike effort, then, for the priciest car of the entire field. – CD